Wooden or other dielectric capacitive touch interface and loudspeaker having same

ABSTRACT

Wireless-enabled loudspeaker includes a wooden capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise at least one electroacoustic transducer, a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer, and a wooden exterior surface comprising a capacitive touch user interface that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker. The wooden exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise a wireless transceiver circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network. The wireless transceiver circuit may receive wirelessly audio content from streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet. The capacitive touch user interface comprises a plurality of user control icons etched in the wooden exterior surface, and a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes located under the wooden exterior surface.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/997,004, filed Aug. 19, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/152,014, filed Oct. 14, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,785,550, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/468,590, filed Mar. 24, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,291,972, which isa continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/094,277, filed Dec. 2,2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,628,880, issued Apr. 18, 2017.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/832,719, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Configuring Wireless Devicesfor a Wireless Infrastructure Network,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,060,288,issued on Jun. 16, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety. The following patents and applications claims priority toU.S. Pat. No. 9,060,288: Ser. No. 14/702,316, now U.S. Pat. No.9,185,168; Ser. No. 14/850,508, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,304; Ser. No.15/080,940, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,629,190; Ser. No. 15/463,559, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,992,061; Ser. No. 15/927,262, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,079,717;Ser. No. 16/057,360, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,298,451; Ser. No. 16/375,428,now U.S. Pat. No. 10,601,652; Ser. No. 16/528,173, now U.S. Pat. No.10,680,884; Ser. No. 16/528,186, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,560,323; and Ser.No. 16/875,351.

The present invention is also related to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/031,938, filed Sep. 19, 2013, entitled “Wireless Earphone Set,”which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/609,409 filed Sep. 11, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/459,291 filed Apr. 30, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.8,571,544, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/936,488, filed Dec. 20, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,190,203, which is anational stage entry of PCT/US09/39754, filed Apr. 7, 2009, which claimspriority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/123,265,filed Apr. 7, 2008, all of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety. The following patents and applications also claimpriority to PCT Application No. PCT/US09/39754 and U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/123,265: Ser. No. 14/695,696, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,438,987; Ser. No. 15/082,040, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,497,535;Ser. No. 15/293,785, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,729,959; Ser. No. 15/650,362,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,986,325; Ser. No. 15/962,305, now U.S. Pat. No.10,206,025; Ser. No. 16/182,927, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,368,155; Ser. No.16/375,879, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,469,934; Ser. No. 16/528,701, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,491,982; Ser. No. 16/528,703, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,506,325;Ser. No. 16/528,705; Ser. No. 16/528,706, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,757,498;Ser. No. 16/881,488; Ser. No. 16/884,691; and Ser. No. 16/900,035.

BACKGROUND

A typical capacitive touchscreen panel consists of an insulator such asglass, coated with a transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide(ITO). When a human finger touches the surface of the screen, adistortion of the screen's electrostatic field results, measurable as achange in capacitance, because the human body is also an electricalconductor. Different technologies may be used to determine the locationof the touch. The location is then sent to a controller for processing.Capacitive touchscreens are often used for user interfaces, such as insmartphones, tablet computers, etc.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, the present invention is directed towireless-enabled loudspeaker with a wooden or other dielectriccapacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise at leastone electroacoustic transducer for producing audible sound, a processorin communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer, and awooden (or other dielectric) exterior surface comprising a capacitivetouch user interface that allows a user to control operation of theloudspeaker. The capacitive touch user interface may comprise at leastone capacitive sense electrode in communication with the processor, andthe wooden exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touchuser interface. In various implementations, the loudspeaker furthercomprises a wireless transceiver circuit in communication with theprocessor, wherein the wireless transceiver circuit is for receiving andtransmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network(e.g., a WiFi wireless network). As such, the wireless transceivercircuit may receive wirelessly audio content for playing by theloudspeaker via the wireless network; the processor may process theaudio content; and the electroacoustic(s) transducer may audibly outputthe audio content. The wireless transceiver circuit may receive audiocontent from streaming audio content servers that are connected to theInternet.

In various implementations, the capacitive touch user interfacecomprises a plurality of user control icons etched or otherwise fixedinto the wooden (or other dielectric) exterior surface, and a pluralityof capacitive sense electrodes located under the wooden exteriorsurface. There may be at least one capacitive sense electrode for eachone of the plurality of user control icons. The plurality of usercontrol icons may comprise, for example, a volume control to control thevolume of the sound output by the loudspeaker and an on/off control forthe loudspeaker. There may be a plurality of side-by-side capacitivesense electrodes associated with the volume control icon, forming aslider capacitive sensor. The loudspeaker may also include a next streamcontrol that, when activated by the user, causes the wirelesstransceiver circuit to switch from receiving streaming audio from afirst streaming audio content server to receiving streaming audio from asecond streaming audio content serer. Addresses for the first and secondstreaming audio content servers may be stored in a memory unit of theloudspeaker. In addition, the loudspeaker may also include a controlthat, when activated by the user, causes the wireless transceivercircuit to transmit an indication for a track being played by theloudspeaker to be transmitted to a remote server system that isconnected to the Internet. The indication for the track may be anindication of approval by the user for the track and/or the remoteserver system may comprise a social media website server system.

These and other benefits of the present invention will be apparent fromthe description that follows.

FIGURES

Various embodiments of the present invention are described herein byexample with reference to the following figures.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a loudspeaker according to variousembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a network system in which the loudspeaker may beused according to various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a capacitive user touch interface on a top,wooden surface of the loudspeaker according to various embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of components of the loudspeaker according tovarious embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-6 are diagrams of capacitive touch electrodes according tovarious embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for configuring the loudspeaker forcommunicating on a wireless network according to various embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams of the electroacoustic transducers of theloudspeaker according to various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is simplified block diagram of a content access point (CAP)according to various embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

In one general aspect, the present invention is directed towireless-enabled loudspeaker with a wooden or other dielectriccapacitive touch user interface, and preferably a projected capacitanceuser interface. FIG. 1 is a view of the loudspeaker 100 and FIG. 2 is adiagram of a wireless communication network 200 that includes theloudspeaker 100 according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. The loudspeaker may 100 may receive content wirelessly forplaying (i.e., audio), for example, via a wireless communication link201, such as a Wi-Fi network or other suitable wireless network. With aWi-Fi network, for example, the loudspeaker 100 may connect to theInternet 202 via an access point 206 so that the loudspeaker 100 canaccess and receive wirelessly audio streams from streaming audio contentserver systems 204 that are on (or connected to) the Internet 202. Twosuch streaming audio content server systems 204 are show in FIG. 2 forsimplicity, although there could be many more. As described in moredetail below, a user of the loudspeaker 100 may use a computer 208 tohelp configure or set-up the loudspeaker 100 for use. The computer 208may be any computer device that is suitable for configuring theloudspeaker 100, such as a PC, laptop, tablet computer, smartphone,etc., and that is connectable to the Internet 202 (as most computersare). The user may use the computer 208 to access a web site hosted by aremote server 210 in configuring the loudspeaker 100. The remote server210 may also store configuration parameters for the loudspeaker 100, asdescribed further below.

The loudspeaker 100 may be made primarily of a dielectric material, suchas wood. For example, ash or any other suitable wood could be used. Insuch an embodiment, the loudspeaker 100 may comprise wooden top 102,bottom 104, side 106, 108, and back 110 surfaces. A front surface maycomprise, for example, an acoustical grate 112 (e.g., a perforated steelacoustical grate) through which sound emanates. As shown in the exampleof FIG. 8, one or more speakers, e.g., a mid-range speaker 802 and atweeter 804, may sit behind the grate 112 and output audio through thegrate 112 for listening. The speakers 802, 804 may be surrounded by, andbe fastened to, a front wood surface 806. The loudspeaker 100 may havesharp edges/corners as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, or in other embodimentsit could have rounded corners and edges. The size of the loudspeaker 100may depend on in part the size and number of electroacoustic transducersthat are employed (a bigger loudspeaker is obviously needed for more andbigger transducers). The loudspeaker 100 may be, for example, 6″ to 24″tall, 6″ to 18″ wide, and 6″ to 18″ deep, according to variousembodiments, or even larger. In the illustrated embodiments, theloudspeaker 100 is taller than it is wide; in other embodiments it couldbe wider than it is tall.

In various embodiments, the top surface 102 may comprise a woodencapacitive touch user interface through which a user may control theloudspeaker 100. FIG. 3 is a top view of the top surface 102 of theloudspeaker 100 showing the capacitive touch user interface according toone embodiment of the present invention. The interface may includeseveral controls, whose corresponding icons may be laser-etched in thewood of the top surface 102. The controls may include, for example: avolume control 302; a next track control 304; a previous track control306; a next stream control 308; a positive feedback control 310; anegative feedback control 312; an auxiliary control 314; and a power(on/off) control 316. These controls may use the wood of the wooden topsurface 102 as the dielectric between the user's finger and thecorresponding electrode for the control. The user can contact thecapacitive controls or come in close proximity to them in order for theuser's commands to be sensed. In addition, each of the controls 302-316may have associated LED pipes 321-338 that emit when their correspondingcontrol is activated. The LED pipes may be made from an opticallytranslucent material, such as acrylic, and may pipe light energy fromcorresponding LEDs (not shown) to the top surface 102 of the loudspeaker100.

In various embodiments, the volume control 302 may be implemented with acapacitive slider sensor. The user can increase the playback volume bysliding their finger from left to right, and decrease the playbackvolume by sliding their finger from right to left. The other controlsmay be implemented, for example, with capacitive buttons. There may bemultiple LED pipes associated with the volume control 302, such as thefive (LEDs 321-325) shown in FIG. 2 or a different quantity. The LED321-325 may illuminate in correspondence to the position of the user'sfinger as the user slides his/her finger across the volume control 302.For example, when the user slides his/her finger from left to right onthe volume control 302 to increase the volume, first LED 321 mayactivate, and then the other LEDs 322 up to 325 may activate in sequenceas the user slides his/her finger from left to right on the volumecontrol 302 depending on where the user stops. Conversely, when the userslides his/her when the user slides his/her finger from right to left onthe volume control 302 to decrease the volume, first all of the LEDs321-325 may activate, and then the other LEDs 325 down to 322 may turnoff in sequence as the user slides his/her finger from right to left onthe volume control 302 depending on where the user stops. LEDs 321-325may stay on for a short period of time, such as until the user removeshis/her finger from the volume control 302, or a short time thereafter.

The next stream button 308 allows the user to advance to the nextstream. The streams may be, for example, audio streams from differentsources received wirelessly by the loudspeaker 100 via the wirelessnetwork. For example, the streams could be from the streaming audiocontent server systems 204 connected to the Internet 202 (see FIG. 2),where the loudspeaker 100 receives the streams via the wireless network201. There may be a pre-established order associated with the streamingaudio content server systems 204 (e.g., stored by the remote server 210and established by the user through computer 208), and clicking the nextstream button 308 causes the loudspeaker 100 to connect to the nextstreaming audio content server 204 in the pre-established order.Clicking the next stream button 308 may cause its corresponding LED 330to illuminate for a brief period of time. The next and previous trackcontrols 304, 306 allow the user to advance to the next or prior audiotracks in a stream, respectively. Clicking the next and previous trackcontrols 304, 306 may cause their corresponding LEDs 326, 328 toilluminate for a brief period of time, respectively.

By touching (or coming within sufficiently close proximity) to thepositive feedback control 310 or negative feedback control 312, the usermay indicate positive or negative feedback respectively for a song orother track being played by the loudspeaker 100. For example, when theuser activates the positive (or negative) feedback control 310 (312), anindication of the user's approval (or disapproval) of the trackcurrently being played by the loudspeaker 100 may be sent via thewireless network 201 and the Internet 202 to the remote server 210. Theremote server 210 may store data related to the tracks that the user ofthe loudspeaker 100 approves and disapproves. Clicking the positivefeedback control 310 and/or negative feedback control 312 may causetheir corresponding LEDs 332, 334 to illuminate for a brief period oftime, respectively.

In yet other embodiments, additionally or alternatively, the capacitiveuser interface could include a control (not shown) that causes dataabout the track currently being listened to on the loudspeaker to besent to a social media server system(s) 212, such as Twitter, Facebook,Google+, etc. Upon receipt of such data, the social media site mayindicate that the user is listening to or enjoying or playing the track.

With the auxiliary control 314, the user can switch the input source forthe loudspeaker 100. For example, in various embodiments, theloudspeaker 100 comprises, on the back surface 110, an audio input jack(not shown). For example, the loudspeaker 100 may comprise a femaleaudio receptacle sized to accommodate a TRS, TS, TRRS or any othersuitable audio connector. That way (with for example an audio cable withtwo male audio connectors), the user could connect a digital personalaudio player (e.g., an iPod or other similar device) to the loudspeaker100 such that the loudspeaker 100 can output audio from the digitalpersonal audio player. Alternatively or additionally, the loudspeaker100 may comprise other input means for connecting to other audiosources, such as a USB input, an optical audio connector input, etc. Theuser may cycle between these different sources (including the wirelesssource) by activating the auxiliary control 314. Clicking the auxiliarycontrol 314 may cause its corresponding LED 336 to illuminate for ashort period of time.

The power control 316 may be used to turn on and off the loudspeaker100. The LED 338 for the power control 316 may illuminate when theloudspeaker 100 is turned on.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the loudspeaker 100 according tovarious embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4, the loudspeaker 100 maycomprise a central processing unit (CPU) 402 and one or more externalmemory units 404. The external memory unit(s) 404 may comprisenon-volatile memory, such as NAND flash memory. In addition, the CPU 402may include internal volatile (e.g., RAM) and/or non-volatile (e.g.,ROM) memory. Collectively, the internal and external memory may storesoftware and/or firmware instructions or code that are executed by theCPU 402 to control the operation of the loudspeaker 100. Preferably, theCPU 402 comprises digital audio processing capabilities, such as an AMSmodel AS3531 digital audio processor or other suitable digital audioprocessor.

Also as shown in FIG. 4, the loudspeaker 100 may comprise a RFtransceiver circuit 408 connected to the CPU 402 that handlesradio/wireless communications by the loudspeaker 100. In variousembodiments, the RF transceiver circuit 408 may be a separate chip fromthe CPU 402 (as shown in FIG. 4) or it could be integrated with the CPU402. The wireless communication may use any suitable wirelesscommunication protocol, and preferably a protocol that is capable ofcommunicating with the Internet 202 through the access point 206 (seeFIG. 2), such as the Wi-Fi protocols (such as IEEE 802.11 a, b, g,and/or n), or WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), or any other suitable protocol. Inoperation, therefore, streaming audio from one of the streaming audiocontent server systems 204 (or other wireless audio source) may bereceived by the RF transceiver circuit 408 via the Internet 202 (orother data communications network) and processed by the CPU 402. In anembodiment where the RF transceiver circuit 408 is a separate chip fromthe CPU 402, the RF transceiver circuit 408 may be implemented with, forexample, a NanoRadio NRG731 chip. The received audio may be output byone or more speakers (e.g., electroacoustic transducers) 412 after beingconverted from digital to analog by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)414 and amplified by an audio power amplifier 416. Although only onespeaker 412 is shown in FIG. 4, it should be recognized that themultiple speakers could be used, such as mid-range, tweeter, bass,woofer and/or sub-woofer speakers. In one embodiment, the loudspeaker100 may be a mono (one channel) speaker system and could be paired withanother (or additional) loudspeakers on different channels to create astereo (or surround) speaker system.

Also as shown in FIG. 4, the loudspeaker 100 may comprise the capacitivetouch sensors 302-316 and LEDs 415 for the corresponding LED pipes321-338 that are part of the capacitive user interface 420. More detailsabout the capacitive touch sensors 302-316 and the LED pipes 321-338 areshown in connection with FIGS. 5-6. Also, the loudspeaker 100 maycomprise a capacitive sense controller 422 for controlling thecapacitive touch sensors 302-316 and interfacing with the CPU 402. Anysuitable capacitive sense controller 422 may be used, such as forexample, a C8051F996 capacitive sensing MCU from Silicon Labs. Inaddition, one or more LED drivers 424 may be used as needed to drive theLEDs 321-338; any suitable LED driver may be used, such as for example,a SX1509QB LED driver from Semtech.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show more details about the wooden capacitive touch userinterface according to various embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 5 is a simplified side-view of the wooden capacitive touch userinterface. This figure shows the wooden top surface 102 of theloudspeaker adjacent to an electrode 502 that is mounted on a top sideof a printed circuit board 504. The electrode 502 may be connected toother components, such as the capacitive sense controller 422, by aconductive via 506 through the printed circuit board 504 and aconductive trace 508 on the underside of the printed circuit board. Thecapacitive sense controller 422 may be mounted, for example, to theunderside of the printed circuit board 504 or to another printed circuitboard (not shown). The printed circuit board 504 may be constructed of adielectric material such as FR4. Also, the wooden top surface 102 actsas dielectric. Consequently, when a user brings their finger 510proximate to the electrode 502, the capacitive fields of the electrode502 are altered since the user's finger acts an electrode of acapacitor, with the wooden top surface 102 acting as dielectrictherebetween. This change in capacitance can be detected, such as by thecapacitive sense controller 422, to determine whether the user hasactivated the control associated with the electrode 502.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the printed circuit board 504 that may beunderneath the wooden top surface 102. As shown in FIG. 6, each of thecontrols 302-316 (see FIG. 3) has at least one associated electrode 502.The electrodes 502 shown in FIG. 6 are interdigitated electrodes,although in other embodiments one or more of the electrodes 502 couldhave other structures, such as disc electrodes, etc. As shown in FIG. 6,the volume control 302 may comprise multiple electrodes 502 in a row toform a slider sensor to detect movement of the user's finger across thevolume control 302. FIG. 6 also shows the LED pipes 321-338. The LEDs415 (shown in FIG. 4) may be below the printed circuit board 504, andtheir light energy is carried by the light pipes 321-338 through theprinted circuit board 504 to the top wooden surface 102.

The loudspeaker 100 may be powered by an external AC-DC in-line powersupply and/or internal batteries.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the back of the loudspeaker 100 with the backwooden panel removed. As shown in FIG. 9, the interior of theloudspeaker may include, for example, a wooden shelf 901 toward the topof the loudspeaker 100. The printed circuit boards for variouselectrical components and chips (e.g., the CPU 402, the RF transceivercircuit 408, the external memory 404, etc.) may be mounted to orotherwise attached to a top of the shelf 901. Caulk may be used tosecure the shelf 901 to the interior sides of the wooden side surfaces106, 106.

To configure the loudspeaker 100 for wireless operation, two thingspreferably must happen. First, the loudspeaker 100 should be associatedwith a user's account; second, it should be provisioned to work on aWiFi (or other wireless) network. The user may have an account with anInternet service that manages the wireless loudspeaker 100 and/or otherwireless audio and/or video devices that the user may have. The Internetservice for managing the wireless device, including the loudspeaker 100,may be hosted by the remote server system 210 (see FIG. 2), for example.The user may access the remote server system 210 via the Internet 202from the user's computer 208. FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a processto configure or set up the loudspeaker 100 for use, and in particular toconnect to the WiFi (or other wireless) network, according to variousembodiments of the present invention. At step 701, if the user does notalready have an account with the service, the user sets up an accountwith the remote server system 210 and logs into their account. The usermay set up the account by logging onto a web site hosted by the remoteserver system 210 that is accessible through the Internet 202 by theuser's computer 208. Once logged in, the user opens a device set upapplication (e.g., an applet) from the website at step 702 and at step703 plugs the loudspeaker 100 into the computer 208, such as via a USBcable (the back of the loudspeaker 100 may have a USB port). The set upapplication may have a “search” button that, when activated by the userat step 704 at the user's computer 208, searches for the loudspeaker100. Once the loudspeaker 100 is found, its device ID is displayed inthe set up application and the user may, at step 705, again through theset up application, elect to add the loudspeaker 100 to the user'saccount. Once the loudspeaker 100 is added to the user's account, it maynow be provisioned for the WiFi network. At step 706, a WiFi set upapplication may be opened from the web site. Then, at step 707 theloudspeaker is disconnected from the computer 208 and, according tovarious embodiments, a content access point (CAP) is connected to thecomputer 208, again through a USB port, for example. The CAP may be adevice that scans for local WiFi networks. More details about a suitableCAP can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/832,719, filedMar. 15, 2013, entitled “Configuring Wireless Devices for a WirelessInfrastructure Network,” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,060,288 on Jun. 16,2015, and in U.S. Pat. No. 8,190,203, issued Nov. 29, 2012, entitled“Wireless Earphone That Transitions Between Wireless Networks,” both ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Atstep 708, the CAP scans for local wireless networks. Assuming one ormore are found, identifiers (e.g., names) for the found networks willappear in the WiFi set up application. Then, at step 709 the CAP isdisconnected from the computer 208 and the loudspeaker 100 isreconnected. Next, at step 710 the desired WiFi network can be selectedin the WiFi setup application by the user, at which point then user isprompted to input the password for the WiFi network (and possibleencryption type) at step 711. The application may then, at step 712,create a file (e.g., a .bin file) with the network credentials(identifier, password, etc.) and write the file to the loudspeaker 100(e.g., stored in one of the memory units thereof), which completes theprocess such that the loudspeaker 100 is assigned to the user's accountand configured to work on a local WiFi network. The network credentialsare stored in the memory of the loudspeaker 100 so that the loudspeaker100 can use them to access the WiFi network. Other WiFi networks couldbe added in a similar manner.

FIG. 10 is simplified block diagram of the CAP 16 according to variousembodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the CAP 16may comprise a processor 40, a volatile memory 42, a nonvolatile memory44, a RF (or radio or Wi-Fi) module 46 and a USB port 48 or othersuitable external interface that allows the CAP 16 to connect to anexternal device, such as the DAP 20 or the computer 22. The CAP 16 mayalso include a chargeable power source (not shown) for powering thecomponents of the CAP 16. The RF module 46 may handle radio/wirelesscommunications by the CAP 16. For example, the RF module 46 may allowthe CAP to communicate via a wireless communication protocol, preferablyWi-Fi, with the speaker device or a wireless access point 206. Thememory units 42, 44 may store software instructions for execution by theprocessor 40 that control the function and operation of the CAP 16. Inaddition, in various embodiments, the speaker device and the CAP 16 arepart of a conjoined assembly, such that the CAP 16 is configured atmanufacture to know the identifiers for the speaker device. That is, thenon-volatile memory 44 may store addresses (e.g., IP addresses) for thespeaker device. Also, the CAP 16 may be an integral part of a digitalaudio player (e.g., a device that stores and plays digital audio files,such as a MP3 player, iPod, iPhone, etc.) or the computer 208.

The CAP 16 may also allow the WiFi credentials to be sent to the speakerdevice without having to plug the speaker device into the computer 208.The user (e.g., a user of the speaker device), using theInternet-enabled computer 208 with a browser, logs into a websiteassociated with the speaker device, hosted by the remote server(s) 210,and sets up an account (if the user does not already have one). At thewebsite the user can, for example, add Wi-Fi hotspots and specifycontent channels (e.g., Internet radio stations or other serversconnected to the Internet that serve content). To add a Wi-Fi hotspot,the user may click (or otherwise activate) a link on the website thatindicates a desire to add a Wi-Fi hotspot. In various embodiments, aJAVA applet from the website may be used by the computer 208 to searchfor nearby Wi-Fi hotspots, which, upon detection, may be displayed forthe user on the website. The user may then click on (or otherwiseselect) the desired Wi-Fi hotspot to add. If applicable, the website maythen prompt the user to enter a password and/or encryption type (e.g.,WPA or WPA2) for the selected Wi-Fi hotspot. The SSID, password, andencryption type for the Wi-Fi hotspot is stored for the user's accountby the remote server(s) 210. This process could be repeated as necessaryto add as many Wi-Fi hotspots as desired by the user.

Next, a user device, e.g., the loudspeaker 100, may be added to theuser's account. The user may do this, according to various embodiments,by plugging the CAP 16 into the computer 208. Using a JAVA applet, forexample, the IDs for the CAP, as well as the IDs for the speaker device,stored in a non-volatile memory of the CAP, are uploaded to the remoteserver(s) 210 and stored at the remote server(s) 210 as part of theuser's account information. Next, the user may update the speaker devicewith the Wi-Fi hotspot credentials (e.g., SSID, password if one is usedfor the hotspot, and/or encryption type). The user may do this byclicking on or otherwise selecting a link on the website to update thespeaker device. Upon clicking the link, the CAP transmits thecredentials (e.g., SSID, password, encryption type) for each of theadded Wi-Fi hotspots to the speaker device, via an ad hoc wirelesscommunication link. This process allows the speaker device to beconfigured for infrastructure network (and Internet) access withouthaving to physically connect the speaker device to the computer 208 toconfigure them and without having an existing, different infrastructurenetwork that the speaker device need to connect to.

As mentioned above, the loudspeaker 100 (via the RF transceiver circuit408) may receive streaming audio from streaming audio content serversystems 204 connected to the Internet 202. Using the computer 208, theuser may log onto, for example, a web site hosted by the remote serversystem 210 to configure the streaming audio sources 204 for theloudspeaker 100. For example, in one embodiment, through the web sitethe user can specify a number of streaming audio content server systems204 to which the user desired to listen at various times in the future.The user may also specify a cycling sequence or queue for the streamingaudio content server systems 204. The IP addresses and the desiredsequence for those streaming audio content server systems 204 may bedownloaded to the loudspeaker from the remote server 210 wirelessly orfrom the computer 208, for example, and stored in a memory unit of theloudspeaker 100, e.g., external memory unit 404 and/or memory unitsinternal to the CPU 402. When the loudspeaker is in use, and the useractivates the next stream control 308, the RF transceiver circuit 408can retrieve (or be sent by the CPU 402) the address for the nextstreaming audio content server system 204 in the queue and connect tothe streaming audio content server system 204 via the wireless link 201and the Internet 202 so that audio from the next streaming audio contentserver system 204 can be played by the loudspeaker 100.

The above embodiments are generally described in the context of a woodencapacitive touch user interface. In other embodiments, however, otherdielectrics could be used. For example, in such embodiments, theexterior surface of the loudspeaker 100 that has the user interfacecould comprise other dielectric materials besides wood, such asthermoplastic or other resins (e.g., Teflon, phenolic, epoxy, acetal),fiberglass, MDF (medium density fiberboard), solid surface materialssuch as Corian®, glass, stone, etc. In such embodiments, substantiallyof the exterior surfaces (e.g., top surface 102) could be made of thedielectric, or just the exterior surface(s) with the capacitive touchuser interface. According to such embodiments, the control icons 302-316may be etched, printed on, or otherwise fixed to the exterior surface(e.g., top surface 102). And the LED pipes 321-338 may be used with anyof the dielectric overlay materials. Further, for all dielectric overlaymaterials, the thickness of the dielectric overlay may be selected basedon mechanical/ESD robustness (the thicker the better), power consumption(the thinner the better), and the dielectric properties of the material.The thickness may be about ⅛″ for a wooden (ash) overlay, for example.

In various embodiments, therefore, the present invention is directedgenerally to a loudspeaker 100 that comprises at least oneelectroacoustic transducer 802, 804 for producing audible sound, aprocessor 402 in communication with the at least one electroacoustictransducer, and a wooden exterior surface (e.g., top surface) 102comprising a capacitive touch user interface 420 that allows a user tocontrol operation of the loudspeaker. The capacitive touch userinterface 420 comprises at least one capacitive sense electrode 502 incommunication with the processor 402, and the wooden exterior surface102 acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface. Invarious implementations, the loudspeaker 100 further comprises awireless transceiver circuit 408 in communication with the processor402, wherein the wireless transceiver circuit 408 is for receiving andtransmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network(e.g., a WiFi wireless network). As such, the wireless transceivercircuit 408 may receive wirelessly audio content for playing by theloudspeaker 100 via the wireless network; the processor 402 may processthe audio content; and the at least one electroacoustic transducer 802,804 may audibly output the audio content. The wireless transceivercircuit 408 may receive audio content from one or more streaming audiocontent servers 204 that are connected to the Internet 202.

In various implementations, the capacitive touch user interface 420comprises a plurality of user control icons 302-316 etched in the woodenexterior surface 102, and a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes 502located under the wooden exterior surface 102. There may be at least onecapacitive sense electrode 502 for each one of the plurality of usercontrol icons 302-316. The plurality of user control icons may comprise,for example, a volume control 302 to control the volume of the soundoutput by the loudspeaker 100 and an on/off control 316 for theloudspeaker 100. There may be a plurality of side-by-side capacitivesense electrodes associated with the volume control icon, forming aslider capacitive sensor. The loudspeaker 100 may also include a nextstream control 308 that, when activated by the user, causes the wirelesstransceiver circuit 408 to switch from receiving streaming audio from afirst streaming audio content server to receiving streaming audio from asecond streaming audio content serer. Addresses for the first and secondstreaming audio content servers may be stored in a memory unit 404 ofthe loudspeaker 100. In addition, the loudspeaker 100 may also include acontrol that, when activated by the user, causes the wirelesstransceiver circuit 408 to transmit an indication for a track beingplayed by the loudspeaker to be transmitted to a remote server system210, 212 that is connected to the Internet 202. The indication for thetrack may be an indication of approval by the user for the track and/orthe remote server system may comprise a social media website serversystem 212.

In another general embodiment, the loudspeaker 100 comprises theelectroacoustic transducer(s) 802, 804, for producing audible sound; theprocessor 402; and the capacitive touch user interface 420 on anexterior surface 102 of the loudspeaker 100 that allows a user tocontrol operation of the loudspeaker 100. The capacitive touch userinterface 420 comprises at least one capacitive sense electrode 520 incommunication with the processor 402; the exterior surface 102 is adielectric for the capacitive touch user interface 420; and a pluralityof user control icons 302-316 for the capacitive touch user interface420 are fixed (e.g., etched) on the exterior surface 102. In variousimplementations, the loudspeaker 100 may further comprise a plurality oflight emitting diodes (LEDs) 415 located below the exterior surface 102;and a plurality of LED pipes 321-338 for carrying light energy from theLEDs 415 to the exterior surface 102.

In various embodiments disclosed herein, a single component may bereplaced by multiple components and multiple components may be replacedby a single component to perform a given function or functions. Exceptwhere such substitution would not be operative, such substitution iswithin the intended scope of the embodiments.

While various embodiments have been described herein, it should beapparent that various modifications, alterations, and adaptations tothose embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art withattainment of at least some of the advantages. For example, in someinstances different materials or components may be used. The disclosedembodiments are therefore intended to include all such modifications,alterations, and adaptations without departing from the scope of theembodiments as set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A loudspeaker comprising: an enclosure defined bya base surface, a smooth top surface, and one or more sidewalls,wherein: the enclosure defines a volume; the enclosure is free-standingwhen sitting on the base surface; and the smooth top surface comprises adielectric material; a plurality of speakers within the volume definedby the enclosure, wherein the plurality of speakers comprises at leastone low-frequency speaker and at least one high-frequency speaker; awireless communication circuit inside the enclosure, wherein thewireless communication circuit is for receiving wirelessly an audiostream, wherein the plurality of speakers are for playing the audiostream; and at least one capacitive sense electrode, wherein the atleast one capacitive sense electrode forms part of a capacitive touchuser interface for the loudspeaker, with the dielectric material of thesmooth top surface serving as a dielectric layer for the capacitivetouch user interface, such that the capacitive touch user interfaceallows a user of the loudspeaker to control operation of the loudspeakerthrough touching the smooth top surface of the loudspeaker.
 2. Theloudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuit isfurther for: receiving, wirelessly from a mobile device via an ad hocwireless communication link, a network ID and a password for aninfrastructure wireless network pre-specified by a user, wherein thenetwork ID and the password for the pre-specified infrastructurewireless network are stored at a remote network server; and wirelesslyreceiving, via the infrastructure wireless network, the audio stream viathe pre-specified infrastructure wireless network.
 3. The loudspeaker ofclaim 2, wherein: the enclosure has rounded edges; the enclosure isbetween 6″ and 24″ in height when sitting on the base surface; the atleast one low-frequency speaker comprises at least one sub-woofer; andthe at least one high-frequency speaker comprises at least one tweeter.4. The loudspeaker of claim 3, further comprising: a plurality of LEDindicators at the top surface; and a LED driver connected to theplurality of LED indicators.
 5. The loudspeaker of claim 4, furthercomprising a memory, wherein: the memory stores the network ID and thepassword for the infrastructure wireless network; and the wirelesscommunication circuit uses the network ID and the password tocommunicate via the infrastructure wireless network.
 6. The loudspeakerof claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprises plastic.
 7. Theloudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprises wood.8. The loudspeaker of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material comprisesfiberglass.
 9. A system comprising: a loudspeaker comprising: anenclosure that defines an internal volume, wherein the enclosurecomprises a smooth outer surface that does not include protrusionsextending therefrom and that comprises a dielectric material of acapacitive touch user interface; a plurality of speakers within thevolume defined by the enclosure, wherein the plurality of speakerscomprises at least one low-frequency speaker and at least onehigh-frequency speaker; a wireless communication circuit inside theenclosure, wherein the wireless communication circuit is for receivingand transmitting wireless signals to and from the loudspeaker; at leastone capacitive sense electrode, wherein: the at least one capacitivesense electrode forms part of the capacitive touch user interface forthe loudspeaker that allows a user of the loudspeaker to controloperation of the loudspeaker through touching the smooth outer surfaceof the enclosure; and the dielectric material of the smooth outersurface serves as a dielectric layer for the capacitive touch userinterface; and a mobile device that is in communication with theloudspeaker via an ad hoc wireless communication link, wherein themobile device is for transmitting to the loudspeaker wirelessly via thead hoc wireless communication link credential data for theinfrastructure wireless network, such that the loudspeaker, uponreceiving the credential data, can connect to the infrastructurewireless network, wherein the credential data comprises a networkidentifier for the infrastructure wireless network and a password forthe infrastructure wireless network.
 10. The system of claim 9, whereinthe mobile device comprises a smartphone.
 11. The system of claim 9,wherein the infrastructure wireless network comprises an infrastructureWi-Fi network.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a remotenetwork server that is in communication with the mobile device, whereinthe remote network server stores the credential data for theinfrastructure wireless network and an identifier for the loudspeaker.13. The system of claim 12, wherein the loudspeaker further comprises amemory connected to the one or more circuit boards, wherein: the memorystores the credential data for the infrastructure wireless network; andthe wireless communication circuit uses the credential data tocommunicate via the infrastructure wireless network.
 14. The system ofclaim 13, further comprising a content server, where the loudspeaker isfor streaming and playing audio from the content server via theinfrastructure wireless network.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein thesmooth outer surface of the enclosure is a top surface of theloudspeaker.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the dielectric materialcomprises plastic.
 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: aplurality of LED indicators at the top surface; and a LED driverconnected to the plurality of LED indicators.
 18. The system of claim15, wherein the dielectric material comprises wood.
 19. The loudspeakerof claim 9, wherein the dielectric material comprises glass.